Here's the way I check the checking fixture:

When you're programming in checkmate what you see is the part cad data, to make a DCC program for the fixture you have to do a lot of works on clearance move, probe selection and during debug you still could have clearance problem plus usually this program will be run for only one or two times (unless you're a fixturing shop). Therefore I don't create DCC program for the fixture at all! What I do is aligned the fixture with tooling balls provided and just collect the points (with probe radius compensation off)off nets, feeler area, trim blocks... and then store them into a result file. Then you can bring all the points into checkmate and use surface/trim/hole analyse function (set mat'l -3mm and probe comp. off in the parameter windows)to create report entity and make labels/reports.

I find this a lot faster than programming, with the time you done your programming I finish the inspection already. If you have to check 4 or 5 different fixtures at a time, this is really quick: just align the fixture, collect the points for all fixtures and then sit down to finish the inspection reports.

Try it.

Ray Xing
Quality Control/CMM programming
Metrican Mfg., Ontario